Alerts

Warning: Emails and telephone calls misusing the name of Gavin Elliot, a solicitor

15 November 2024

Emails have been sent and telephone calls have been made to a member of the public misusing the name and SRA ID of Gavin Elliot, a solicitor.

What is the scam?

The SRA has been advised that emails have been sent and telephone calls have been made to a member of the public misusing the name and SRA ID of a genuine solicitor (see below).

An email seen by the SRA advises the recipient about cryptocurrency transfers that have taken place and provides a document evidencing the transfers. The email has been sent from the email address 'gavin.elliot@solicitor.ac' and provides a postal address of 'North Wharf Road, London, W2'.

The SRA has also been advised that telephone calls have been made to a member of the public. The recipient was advised that their bank details had been compromised and that someone from overseas was using their name to make a profit in cryptocurrency. The recipient was advised to create a cryptocurrency account. The calls were made from the telephone numbers '07443042072' and '07435694991'.

Any business or transaction through the above email address, postal address or telephone numbers is not undertaken by an individual or firm of solicitors authorised and regulated by the SRA.

Is there a genuine firm or person?

The SRA authorises and regulates Gavin Elliot, a solicitor with the SRA ID: 564494. The genuine Gavin Elliot is believed to have no connection to the above matter.

What should I do?

When a firm's or individual's identity has been copied exactly (or cloned), due diligence is necessary. If you receive correspondence claiming to be from the above firm(s) or individual(s), or information of a similar nature to that described, you should conduct your own due diligence by checking the authenticity of the correspondence by contacting the law firm directly by reliable and established means. You can contact the SRA to find out if individuals or firms are regulated and authorised by the SRA and verify an individual's or firm's practising details. Other verification methods, such as checking public records (e.g. telephone directories and company records) may be required in other circumstances.